Islamists attack Turkey 'kissing protest'

AFP , Sunday 26 May 2013

One person was stabbed when Islamists attacked a group of 200 who locked lips at a subway stop in Ankara to protest subway authorities' admonishment of a couple that kissed in public

Kiss
A young Turkish couple kiss to protest against subway officials' harassment of a couple for kissing in public last week, at a subway stop in Ankara, Turkey. Ankara subway officials made a reproaching announcement asking passengers "to act in accordance with moral rules," after spotting the couple kissing through security cameras. Source: AP

Islamists attacked a group of kissing couples who locked lips in a Turkish metro station to protest a morality campaign by the authorities in Ankara, the local press reported on Sunday.

One person was stabbed when about 20 Islamists chanting "Allah Akhbar" (God is Greatest) and some carrying knives attacked the demonstrators on Saturday, the Milliyet and Hurriyet newspapers reported.

About 200 people staged the kissing protest after officials in the Ankara municipality, which is run by Turkey's ruling Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP), admonished a young couple for kissing in the street.

Turkey is predominantly Muslim but staunchly secular, although the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has introduced several measures opponents see as a sign of the creeping Islamisation of the country, including restrictions on alcohol.

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